Protective device for the confinement of explosive objects or objects suspected to be such

ABSTRACT

In various embodiments, explosive objects or objects suspected of being explosive may be substantially contained. A protective device for the confinement of explosive objects or objects suspected to of being explosive may include a sleeve. The axial ends of the sleeve may be open. The sleeve may include a layer of blasting-mat material, splinter-proof material, and/or fire-resistant material. The sleeve may be designed to be placed in a position and remain upright to substantially enclose a suspect object resting on a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protective device for the confinementof explosive objects and/or objects suspected of being explosive.

2. Description of the Relevant Art

When an abandoned object is discovered, especially in a public place,the precautionary course of action is to avoid touching it or displacingit and to evacuate people situated all around. Due to the risk ofimminent explosion of a suspect object, an attempt is made to confinethe suspect object in order to mitigate the effects of a possibleexplosion. Consideration may be given to covering over the suspectobject with a splinter-proof protective cover or hiding the objectbehind a splinter-proof protective screen.

When an explosive device explodes, blast effects are propagated in alldirections, generating considerable forces upon the obstacles which theblast effects encounter. Splinters are also projected in all directions.When a splinter-proof protective cover is used the protected cover islifted up by the explosion so that it prevents the upward projection ofsplinters without effectively protecting a horizontal zone surroundingthe explosive device or preventing the propagation of the blast effects.Moreover, an explosive device surrounded by a cover is renderedcompletely invisible, and so bomb disposal experts who examine thedevice may have certain apprehension as they free the device in order toexamine it, which adds to the experts' stress. Screens only protect asingle side of the explosive device. Upon the explosion, there is a riskthat the screen will be blasted by the explosion and topple overbackward, where it no longer fulfils its protective function.

SUMMARY

Herein we describe protective device for the confinement of explosiveobjects or objects suspected of being explosive. A protective device mayallows effective protection against possible explosion of an object bypreventing the propagation of splinters and blast effects. In someembodiments, a protective device may be easily used without touching asuspect object. A protective device may allows easy access to thesuspect object for bomb disposal experts and provide improved protectionfor bomb disposal experts.

A protective device may substantially confine explosive objects orsuspected explosive objects. In some embodiments, a protective devicemay include a sleeve. A sleeve may be open at its axial ends. A sleevemay include at least one layer of fabric. Fabrics for a sleeve mayinclude a splinterproof type of fabric. A sleeve may be positioned on asurface by one of its ends. A sleeve may be positionable substantiallyvertically to a surface so that the sleeve surrounds a suspect objectresting on the surface.

When an explosive device placed on a surface explodes, blast effects andsplinters are propagated in all directions, especially in horizontal andvertical directions. Some splinters and blast effects are propagatedupward. Some splinters and blast effects propagate downward and arereflected by the ground. Protection of people proximate the explosivedevice may be principally by inhibiting the propagation of splinters andblast effects in a horizontal direction.

In some embodiment, a sleeve may be positioned vertically and/orsurround the object without substantially contacting it. The open-endedsleeve may be a simple and highly resistant structure when faced withoutwardly-directed, radial forces applied to the inner wall and so thesleeve may substantially contain the splinters and the blast effectswhich propagating radially and/or substantially horizontally. Thesurrounds of the explosive object may be protected by a sleeve.

In some embodiments, a sleeve may include an opening on a top surface.An opening on a top surface of a sleeve may allow upward propagation ofblast effects and splinter, and may allow an evacuation of the energy ofthe explosion in a direction which presents no danger to people situatedin a zone surrounding the explosive object. Energy from blast effectsand splinters propagating downward may be at least partially absorbed asthe blast effects and splinters are reflected from the ground. Anopen-ended sleeve may provide bomb disposal experts a view of and accessto the object through the top of the sleeve while protecting the expertsfrom the horizontal propagation of splinters and blast effects.

In some embodiments, a sleeve may include at least one splinter-proofring. A splinter-proof ring may include several thicknesses ofsplinter-proof fabric. A sleeve may include a plurality of concentric,splinter-proof rings to increase the protection offered by the sleeve.In one embodiment, a splinter-proof ring may be formed by windingsplinter-proof fabric. A splinter-proof ring may include at least oneaxial fastening and reinforcing seam. Axial fastening and reinforcingseam may keep a splinter-proof ring wound. Fastening and reinforcingseams locally may increase the rigidity of the splinter-proof typefabric used to improve the rigidity of the splinter-proof ring and mayfacilitate holding the sleeve in the vertical position. A splinter-proofring may include a plurality of axial seams to increase the resistanceand/or strength of the ring.

In some embodiments, a sleeve may include a reinforcing ring includingat least one layer of material with a rigidity sufficient to hold thesleeve substantially upright when it is placed in position. A plasticsmaterial, for example, may be used and is light which may make thesleeve easier to handle.

In one embodiment, a sleeve may include at least one reinforcing webwhich may substantially surround the sleeve. A reinforcing web mayincrease the resistance of the sleeve to the internal forces directedradially outward and generated by the blast effects of an explosion. Toprevent a sleeve from raising during an explosion and causing a gap toform between the ground and a bottom end of the sleeve, the device may,in one embodiment, include a first sleeve and a second sleeve thatsubstantially surrounds the first sleeve. A second sleeve may beslidable relative to a first sleeve. In one embodiment, first and secondsleeves may be coupled with an expansion joint.

In some embodiments, to prevent the protective rings from damaged fromflames created by an incendiary explosive device, the protective devicemay include an inner protective layer that is fire-resistant. Afire-resistant lining can be of the type comprising aluminum. Forexample, a fire-resistant lining can be provided in the form of afireproofing fabric forming an inner wall of an outer casing of thesleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the methods and apparatus of the presentinvention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the followingdetailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrativeembodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a protective deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an angular portion of an embodiment of aprotective device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a winding designed toform a protective ring;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the embodiment of theprotective device shown in FIG. 1 that illustrates the phenomena whichmay occur with the explosion of an explosive device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a variant of the embodiment of theprotective device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second variant of the embodiment of thedevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the device shown in FIG.6 at the time of an explosion; and

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the embodiment of the device shown in FIG.7.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription thereto are not intended to limit the invention to theparticular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within thespirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a protective device capable ofsubstantially confining explosive objects or objects suspected of beingsuch. A protective device 1 may include a multilayered sleeve 2. Asleeve 2 may include an outer casing 3 with an inner wall 4 and an outersurface 5. The sleeve 2 may include openings 6, 7 proximate its axialends. Handles 8, may be coupled on a top edge of the sleeve 2. In anembodiment, a sleeve may include two handles.

In some embodiments, a multilayered sleeve 2 may include concentriclayers or rings positioned in the casing 3. The sleeve 2 may includesplinter-proof rings and/or reinforcing rings. Splinter-proof rings mayinhibit propagation of splinters and blast effects.

FIG. 2 depicts a sectional view of an angular portion of an embodimentof a sleeve 2 which allows the multilayered assembly of the sleeve 2 tobe better visualized. The concentric layers are described successivelyfrom the inside of the sleeve 2 outward. The first layer may include aninner wall 4 of the casing 3. An inner wall may be made of fireproofingfabric. An inner wall may include an aluminum-type fireproofing liner.Next, the sleeve 2 may include three protective rings 9 positionedconcentrically in the casing 3. Protective rings may be made ofsplinter-proof materials. In an embodiment a protective ring may be madeof the type of material used in bullet-proof vests. Next, the sleeve mayinclude a reinforcing ring 10, another protective ring 9, and an outerlayer 11. A reinforcing ring may be made of semi-rigid plasticsmaterial. An outer layer 11 may form the casing 3 with the inner wall 4and may have an outer surface 5. The outer layer 11 may be made of anytype of material or fabric.

As depicted in FIG. 3, a protective ring 9 may be formed by winding astrip of splinter-proof fabric 12 to obtain a multilayered protectivering 9. A multilayered protected ring 9 may include two layers. In someembodiments, an axial fixing and a reinforcing seam 13 may keep thestrip of splinter-proof fabric 12 substantially wound. A reinforcingseam 13 may pass through the different layers of splinter-proof fabricin order to couple the ends of the strips of splinter-proof fabric 11which are positioned radially facing one another. A second fastening andreinforcing seam 14 may be positioned diametrically opposed to the firstseam 12. A second fastening and reinforcing seam 14 may improve thefastening and the reinforcement of the protective ring 9. In someembodiments, a protective ring 9 may include any number of layers. Anumber of layers used to form a protective ring may be selected based atleast partially on the protection desired. In an embodiment, just onethick protective ring may be used. If a sleeve 2 has sufficient strengthto be held vertically when positioned on one of its axial ends, areinforcing ring 10 in the thickness of the sleeve 2 may not be used.

When an explosive object or device or one suspected of being such isdiscovered on a surface, urgent action may be taken to evacuate asecurity zone and to confine the object as quickly as possible with theaid of the sleeve 2. It may be desirable not to touch the object whileplacing the sleeve around the object. FIG. 4 depicts a sleeve 2 placedon the ground surrounding an explosive object symbolized by a circle 15.Upon explosion of the explosive object 15, blast effects may bepropagated in various directions, generating considerable forces on theobstacles it encounters. Splinters also may be projected in variousdirections.

As depicted in FIG. 4, blast effects are symbolized by arrowsrepresenting generated forces. For the sake of simplification, theforces may be split in the vertical and horizontal directions. Theforces directed vertically upward are symbolized in FIG. 4 by an arrowFvh, the forces directed vertically downward are symbolized by an arrowFvb, and the forces directed horizontally are symbolized by the arrowsFH. When one of the forces encounters an obstacle, it may push theobstacle back until the resistance of the obstacle is greater than thisforce and so an opposite reactive force is then created. Each reflectionof the blast effect partially absorbs the energy of the explosion. Thereflected forces symbolized by dotted arrows in FIG. 4. When an object15 is placed on the ground, the downwardly directed forces Fvb may bereflected by the ground, which offers considerable resistance. Theupwardly directed forces Fvh may escape freely through the top opening 6made in the sleeve 2.

Horizontal forces FH from an explosion may be propagated radially in asubstantially symmetrical manner and strike the inner wall 4 of thesleeve 2. The sleeve 2 may be composed of fabrics and/or a semi rigidreinforcing ring. The sleeve 2 may have a substantially oval,elliptical, or cylindrical shape, which may allow the sleeve 2 toeffectively resist radial forces. A semi-rigid sleeve may deform underthe blast of the explosion to better to resist the internal forcesexerted by the horizontal forces FH. The protective rings may bedesigned to resist these considerable forces. The sleeve 2 maysubstantially contain the blast effects and the splinters. Consequently,the horizontal forces FH may be reflected inward and partially absorbed.The successive reflections of the horizontal forces FH inside the sleeve2 may allow the energy of horizontal propagation created by theexplosion to be at least partially absorbed and dissipated. The upwardlydirected vertical forces, FVh, and/or the downwardly directed verticalforces, Fvb, reflected by the ground may escape freely through the topopening 6 formed in the sleeve 2.

In some embodiments, a protective device for the confinement ofexplosive objects or objects suspected of being explosive may be usedinside or outside buildings. The protective device may use theresistance of the ground or floor to dissipate a part of the energyproduced by the explosion. As depicted in FIG. 5, a sleeve 2 may includewebs 19 surrounding the sleeve 2. Webs 19 may improve the mechanicalresistance of the sleeve and may improve the ability of the sleeve tocontain the blast effects of an explosion.

In some embodiments, a protective device 1 may include a first sleeve 2and a second sleeve 20, as depicted in FIG. 6. A second sleeve may beshorter than the first sleeve 2. A second sleeve may substantiallysurround a bottom end of the first sleeve 2. The second sleeve 20 may beconfigured to slide axially relative to the first sleeve 2. The secondsleeve 20 may have a composition similar to the first sleeve 2. In anembodiment, a second sleeve may include protective rings (notrepresented in FIG. 6).

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in an explosion the sleeve 2 may be raised byvertical forces acting on the inner wall 4 of the first sleeve 2 and/ordue to reaction forces from downwardly directed vertical forces. When anexplosion at least partially raises a sleeve, there may be a risk ofblast effects propagating between a bottom edge of the first sleeve 2and the ground. Splinters also may project horizontally and pass throughthis space. When the first sleeve is at least partially raised, thesecond sleeve 20, being slidable relative to the first sleeve 2 and nothaving suffered the direct influence of the explosion, may remain incontact with the ground. The second sleeve 20 may prevent the horizontalpropagation of blast effects and projected splinters.

As depicted in FIG. 8, an expansion joint 21 may couple the bottom edgeof the first sleeve 2 and the top edge of the second sleeve 20. Theexpansion joint 21 may include, but is not limited to, an annular skirtor a plurality of tongues. An expansion joint 21 may include a hemstitched on the outer surface 5 of the first sleeve 2 and an oppositehem stitched on an inner wall 22 of the second sleeve 20. In anembodiment, an expansion joint 21 may have a length such that when thefirst sleeve is displaced relative to the second sleeve to the point ofstretching the expansion joint 21, a covering over of the first sleeve 2by the second sleeve 20 is maintained to prevent the formation of a gap.

Sleeves 2 may have different sizes according to the size of theexplosive device to be confine. In some embodiments, it may be desirableto confine an explosive device using different-sized sleeves, which maybe positioned successively in a concentric manner to form a plurality ofprotective barriers to inhibit a horizontal propagation of blast effectsand splinters even if a central sleeve is slightly raised at the momentof the explosion.

In some embodiments, a sleeve 2 surrounding the explosive device at themoment of its explosion may inhibit a horizontal propagation of thesplinters while allowing the splinters to be propagated upward or strikethe ground. The forces created by blast effects and splinterspropagating vertically may contact either the ground, the floor, or theceiling, which are generally resistant structures that may withstand theblast effects and the splinters without major damage. In addition, thesleeve may substantially contain and/or dissipate the horizontal blasteffects, as well as the horizontally projected splinters. The sleeve mayincrease protection in the horizontal direction in order to protect thepeople and installations situated around the explosive device.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects ofthe invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed asillustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to beunderstood that the forms of the invention shown and described hereinare to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements andmaterials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein,parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of theinvention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to oneskilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of theinvention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in thefollowing claims.

1. A protective device for the confinement of explosive objects orobjects suspected of being explosive comprising: a first sleeve and asecond sleeve, wherein the second sleeve substantially surrounds thefirst sleeve, and wherein the second sleeve is configured to be slidablerelative to the first sleeve, wherein the first sleeve and the secondsleeve are coupled with an expansion joint; wherein at least one of thefirst or the second sleeve comprises: at least one opening at each axialend of the sleeve; at least one layer of splinter-proof fabric; andwherein one end of the sleeve is configured to be positioned on asurface, and wherein the sleeve is configured to remain substantiallyvertically, and wherein the sleeve is configured to substantiallysurround a suspect object resting on the surface.
 2. The device of claim1, wherein the first and/or second sleeve comprise one or moreprotective rings, wherein the protective rings comprise one or morelayers of splinter-proof fabric.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein aprotective ring composed of: a wound strip of splinter-proof fabric, theends of which are coupled together by at least one reinforcing seam. 4.The device of claim 2, wherein the first and/or second sleeve compriseone or more reinforcing rings, wherein the reinforcing rings compriseone or more layers of material possessing a rigidity sufficient to holdthe first and/or second sleeve in a vertical position.
 5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the first and/or second sleeve comprises at least onereinforcing web, wherein the reinforcing web substantially surrounds thefirst and/or second sleeve.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprisingan inner protective layer, wherein the inner protective layer isfire-resistant.
 7. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and/orsecond sleeve further comprises at least one reinforcing web, whereinthe reinforcing web substantially surrounds the first and/or secondsleeve.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the expansion joint includesan annular skirt or a plurality of tongues.
 9. The device of claim 1,wherein the second sleeve is shorter than the first sleeve.
 10. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the expansion joint have a length such that,when the expansion joint is stretched, a covering over the first sleeveby the second sleeve is maintained.